So you’ve decided to cultivate a moustache. It is a look most befitting of an elegant gentleman, and is without a doubt incredibly attractive to the fairer sex. But how does one begin?

Today we are starting with the basics – how to select and apply moustache wax to keep your facial hair healthy and trained to a desirable shape.

Natural vs. petroleum-based

It’s worth noting that while both natural and petroleum-based moustache waxes work well, petroleum-based waxes do not penetrate the hair shaft – rather, these waxes coat your hair. Natural waxes, on the other hand, do penetrate your hair shaft, offering extra conditioning. Typically natural waxes have a beeswax base, like Dr. Dittmar Original Hungarian Moustache Wax.

For basic hold and taming stray hairs, a wax with light to medium hold will do. For a twizzler worthy of the World Beard and Moustache Championships, you’ll want strong or extra strong hold.

There are several ways to get the wax warm:

If you’re using a wax in a tin, warming up the wax will help with application. You can run the tin under hot water for a minute, or hit the tin with a blow dryer on a low setting for a couple of seconds. Be careful not to make the wax hot, which will render it runny and useless. You want to aim for a smooth consistency or else it won’t go on evenly.

If you carry your moustache wax around with you, simply leaving it in your pocket should warm it up enough for application.

Stern Moustache Comb

The application

1. Before application, make sure your hair and fingers are dry.

2. Slide your fingernail over the wax, scraping a small amount onto the top of your nail.

3. Work the wax back and forth between your thumb and forefinger, forming a ball.

4. Starting from the center, work the wax through one side of your moustache with your thumb and forefinger, finishing with the tip. To ensure the moustache wax distributes evenly through your beard and that no hair clumps occur, comb through with a moustache comb like the Stern Moustache Comb.

5. Repeat the process on the other side of your moustache. To keep the look natural, don’t twist the ends.

To create a fancy twizzler:

Add more moustache wax to your facial hair, styling it to the look of your choosing (the Dali, Tom Selleck, or pencil moustache are all wonderful). Twist the ends towards your face for a handlebar look. To seal the style, blast your moustache with cold air from your blowdryer.

Tip: Always start with less and only add more as necessary. Even the fanciest, largest ‘staches don’t require a lot of wax and are waxed in sections.

To train your moustache:

After adding more moustache wax to your facial hair, create a center part and comb hair in the direction you want it to grow. Done daily, this will train your whiskers to keep away from your mouth.

Regarding touch-ups:

Use as little wax as possible if you plan to do touch-ups throughout the day.

According to a Workplace Mustache Study by the American Mustache Institute (AMI), moustache acceptance in workplaces is higher than ever. And with whiskers being a centerpiece of the hipster movement, moustache styles in every permutation have flourished. If you proudly wear a moustache, we recommend checking out the infographic below, which gives you an informative review of the art of owning a moustache.

From selecting a quality local moustache wax maker to famous celebrity moustaches (Tom Selleck’s Magnum P.I. chevron is a natural choice for this list), this Moustache-o-Graph infographic covers how to own the ‘stache, and own it well.

While we’re on the subject of moustaches, do you prefer to be moustached, bearded, or clean shaven? And would you consider growing a beard or a moustache if you’re currently clean shaven? We’d love to know in the comments below – or let us know your thoughts on Facebook or Instagram.

We were lucky enough to get an interview with the master behind V’s Barbershop, Jim CEO and Founder, V’s Barbershop shared with us his experience owning a barbershop.

1. Where are you located?

We were founded and still headquartered in Phoenix, AZ. We currently have 20 V’s opened in 9 states.

2. When did you start this business?

1999

3. When did you realize you wanted to be a barber?

I am not a barber. However, I realized in 1998 that I could not find an authentic, upscale barbershop anywhere in the United States, so I started V’s.

4. Describe a few steps you took to become a barber.

We get asked all the time on the best way to become a barber. We suggest that they research barber schools in their area and make sure that the school they choose has a good reputation and is well thought of by the state Barber Board for graduating well trained barbers. We also suggest that if they do not like to communicate with others then not to bother with barber school. Lastly, we have found that those with artistic ability make the best barbers, so we always ask if they can draw and if they can, we encourage them to look into barbering as a profession.

5. How would you deal with a customer who didn’t know what they wanted?

We train our barbers at V’s to make sure that they and the patron fully understand the cut before they begin. Since we are not a “quick cut” or “chop shop”, we always take as much time as is needed to fully understand the patron’s wishes.

6. Are woman allowed in your barbershop?

Yes, and we have many come in with their sons and wait while his hair is cut. Kids are a big part of any successful barbershop and we do our best to make sure that not only do we give our kids our best effort, but also try to make sure that his mom enjoys he wait as well.

7. What are some of your accomplishments as a Barber?

We have won literally hundreds of awards through the years. I am most proud of being named “Best Barbershop” by Phoenix Magazine 10 times. This is “the” list to be named to in Phoenix and we have fortunate to have been named so many times.

8. Who are some of your favorite barbers?

We have well over 100 barbers throughout all of our shops and many are my favorites. We employ some of the best barbers in the United States and I am proud that any of them can cut my hair. We also perform over 20,000 shaves a year at V’s and with kind of volume and experience, I would put the V’s barbers up against anyone in the world at straight-edge shaving.

9. What do you believe makes a quality hairstyle, cut and groom?

Attention to detail and the ability to execute the patron’s desire. In the end, all barbers are the same – the ones that care the most, make the most.

10. What makes your barbershop different to others?

V’s started the resurgence of the authentic barbershop in 1999. Almost all of the shops that have popped up since have been influenced by our attention to detail, execution and success. Throughout our existence, we have been well served by never straying from the authenticity of our shops, services or mission.

11. Where do you get your inspiration?

Going to the barbershop with my dad when I was a kid and then bringing my son to the barbershop when he was young.

12. What advice do you have for aspiring barbers?

Learn that cleanliness, sanitary practice, quality services and saying thank you are key to success. Also, the successful barber realizes that the other barbers in the shop have rent to pay and mouths to feed, so encouraging their success will lead to a better functioning shop and more money for all.

13. Explain what a barbershop means to you.

It is a community place for guys where a little show is put on every day and the experience stays with you after you leave the shop.

Firstly know what style mustache you want. Then once you have figured that out we can begin.

Dampen your mustache with water and comb through the hair with the fine-toothed comb. Look for long hairs that are sticking up or that are too long. Trim those hairs! Start at the middle of your mustache and work your way outwards. This helps maintain the length and bushiness of your mustache. After that move to trimming above the top lip. keep the middle of the mustache short, just above the pink of the top lip so you are able to eat and drink without it getting in the way or smelling. Secondly, trim the top of the mustache for shape and definition. Some mustaches are uneven in this area below the nose and that’s okay, all you need to do is use a mustache razor. This is a quick and simple task.

Once you have trimmed those extra hairs away then move onto the next area, the bottom of the mustache. The bottom of the mustache is trimmed for a smooth even line otherwise your mustache will look uneven.This helps keep even parameters around the mustache. See diagram below:

Once the trimming is taken care of and the areas are under control you can use the mustache wax. Apply it to your index finger, middle finger and thumb and rub them together so the wax warms up a little between the fingers. Then slowly apply the wax on your mustache. When applying the wax to the mustache make sure you squeeze your mustache to really get the wax in the hairs. Towards the ends twist the hair with your fingers to get a curl at the end. This method will keep the wax rooted into the mustache. Do this a couple times until you feel satisfied with the style and curl.